thirteen → jade west

Chapter 5

Jade sat at the breakfast table, her gaze drifting past the elegant decor of their Holmby Hills home. Across from her, Ellen, her mother, was in full flow, discussing plans for Jade's future with an enthusiasm that Jade found both overwhelming and disheartening.

"Now, Jade, I've been looking into prep classes for Yale and Harvard. It's never too early to start preparing," Ellen said, her voice filled with a mix of pride and expectation.

Jade nodded mechanically, her response automatic. "Okay," she murmured, her voice barely audible.

Ellen seemed not to notice Jade's lack of enthusiasm. "It's crucial that we maintain our family's image, Jade. Your education is a big part of that. These schools have a certain prestige, you know."

Jade continued to nod, her thoughts miles away. She imagined the piano keys under her fingers, the music that offered her an escape from this world of expectations and appearances.

"Jade, are you even listening?" Ellen's voice sharpened, pulling Jade back to the present.

"Yes, Mom. Yale and Harvard," Jade replied, forcing a semblance of interest. Inside, she felt a growing sense of suffocation, trapped in a future laid out for her with no regard for her own dreams.

Ellen seemed satisfied with the response and continued detailing her plans. Jade's mind, however, wandered back to Hollywood Arts, to the freedom she felt there, and to the friends she had made – friends who knew nothing of her life in Holmby Hills.

As breakfast ended, Jade excused herself, feeling a weight on her chest. She longed for the simplicity and authenticity of her life at Hollywood Arts, a stark contrast to the pretense and pressure of her home.

Earlier that morning, Jade sat at the vanity table in her room, her reflection staring back at her. Her naturally wavy hair, which she never gave much thought to, was the subject of her mother's criticism.

"Jade, your hair looks so unruly. It needs to be perfect," Ellen's voice echoed in the room, her tone laced with disapproval.

Jade remained silent, her eyes fixed on her reflection as Martha, the housekeeper who had always been more of a mother to her, began brushing her hair. Martha's strokes were gentle, but the task was clear – to tame Jade's waves into a style that Ellen deemed presentable.

With each stroke of the brush, Jade felt a growing sense of frustration driven by confusion. She wanted to ask questions, but she knew better. In her world, appearances were everything, and her mother's word was law.

As Ellen continued to critique her appearance, Jade felt a sting behind her eyes. She fought back tears, not wanting to ruin the carefully applied makeup that Ellen insisted she wear. 'To look presentable,' Ellen would say, as if Jade's natural appearance wasn't enough.

When Ellen finally left the room, Martha gave Jade a soft, reassuring glance through the mirror. "You are beautiful, Jade, no matter what," Martha whispered, her voice filled with warmth and understanding.

Jade met Martha's gaze in the mirror, a small smile tugging at her lips. In that moment, she felt a sense of gratitude for Martha's presence in her life. She was the one constant in a world that was always demanding more from her.

At thirteen, Jade didn't think much of her hair or her looks. She just knew she had to meet the standards set by her family, standards that had been hammered into her head practically from the moment she was born.

*

A few days later, during a break at the Hollywood Arts prep classes, Jade found herself in the company of Beck, Andre, and Cat. Andre and Cat were deep in an animated discussion, their laughter echoing in the hallway. Jade, meanwhile, stood a bit apart with Beck, their conversation more subdued.

"So, Jade, where do you go to school?" Beck asked casually, leaning against the wall.

Jade felt a pang of insecurity at the question. She didn't want Beck to know about her affluent background and the elite private school she attended. "Um, I go to Lincoln," she lied, hoping her nervousness wasn't too apparent.

"Lincoln, huh? That's cool," Beck replied, nodding. "I'm at Portola Middle School in Tarzana. It's pretty chill."

Their conversation was tentative, each of them feeling out the other. Jade was keenly aware of Beck's presence, his casual demeanor and easy smile making her heart race.

"That's nice," Jade managed to say, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Do you like it there?"

"Yeah, it's alright. I've got a good group of friends, and the teachers are decent," Beck shared, his eyes meeting hers.

Jade nodded, feeling a mix of relief and disappointment. She was relieved that Beck didn't press her about her school, but disappointed that she had to lie to him.

Their conversation continued, a dance of shy glances and tentative smiles. Jade found herself increasingly drawn to Beck, his down-to-earth nature a contrast to the world she was used to.

Andre and Cat, catching snippets of their conversation, exchanged knowing looks. They could sense the budding interest between Jade and Beck, and it brought smiles to their faces.

As the break came to an end, Jade felt a sense of regret. She wished she could be more open with Beck, to share her true self without the fear of judgment. But for now, she was content with the connection they were building, even if it was based on a lie.

*

The evening found Jade in her room, the soft glow of her laptop illuminating her face. She had found Beck's MySpace account and, with a mix of curiosity and guilt, she scrolled through his photos. A part of her felt like she was invading his privacy, but she couldn't help herself.

She clicked on a photo of Beck and a guy named Moose Mackenzie at a skatepark, both of them striking exaggerated poses. Jade couldn't help but giggle at the sight. They looked so carefree, so different from the world she was used to. She didn't recognize that they were mimicking the guys from "Jackass" – she had never seen the show – but their antics were amusing nonetheless.

As she continued to scroll through Beck's photos, Jade felt a growing sense of confusion and excitement. She liked Beck, more than she had initially realized. His smile in the photos made her heart flutter, and she found herself wishing she could be part of his world, a world that seemed so much more real than hers.

But with these feelings came a pang of guilt. She had lied to him about where she went to school, afraid of how he might perceive her if he knew the truth about her wealthy background. The lie weighed heavily on her, a barrier she had put up between them.

Jade sighed, closing her laptop. Lying in bed, she stared up at the ceiling, lost in thought. Her feelings for Beck were real, but they were tangled in a web of pretense and fear of judgment. She longed to be honest with him, to share her true self, but the fear of rejection held her back.

As she drifted off to sleep, Jade's mind was a whirlwind of emotions. She was excited about the connection she felt with Beck, but anxious about the lie that hung between them. How long could she keep up the facade? And what would happen when the truth finally came out?